Portland Trail Blazers: 4 goals in 2021 NBA free agency
By Ty Delbridge
Portland Trail Blazers goals in NBA free agency: 2. Sign a backup center
During the playoffs, Jusuf Nurkic showed just how important he was to this franchise. The team was so much better on the defensive side of the ball when he was playing and an absolute disaster when he was on the bench resting or in foul trouble.
Since Portland didn’t have Collins, they had to use Enes Kanter, who was played off the court. Playing against the MVP of the league Nikola Jokic, the Blazers had to use Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Covington and Anthony to try and guard him down low.
Those guys could try all they want, but they didn’t stand a chance with the size advantage Jokic had. Nurkic can’t play every minute of every game.
The Blazers have to add another center to the roster that can provide some quality minutes off the bench, hold their own on the defensive side, rebound the ball, and battle on both ends.
Like Anthony, I figured Kanter would be gone this summer, but he could return with this Collins injury. Even if that is the case, the Blazers should still add another guy who can replace Kanter in certain matchups. A few names I saw that I was intrigued by was:
- Bismack Biyombo
6’8″, 255 pounds, 6.1 rebounds and1.3 blocks per game for his career. - Robin Lopez
7’0″, 285 pounds, 13 years experience, career 8.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game - Hassan Whiteside
7’0”. 265 pounds. Two-time league leader in blocks, career 13.3 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game - Dewayne Dedmon
7’0″, 245 pounds. Career 6.4 points, 6.0 rebounds while shooting 33.1 percent from the 3-point line per game
None of these players are complete game-changers, but they have some exciting traits that could be useful to the team.
Biyombo has starting experience and has been a solid rim protector throughout his career. Lopez was a fan favorite in Portland before and would be a solid role player. Dedmon is a journeyman and is a decent offensive weapon who can space the floor and is a good rebounder.
Whiteside played one season in Portland to fill in for the injured Nurkic at the time. He was impactful coming off the bench when Nurkic came back, and after a year in Sacramento, he might want to come back to a winning situation in Portland, even if that means coming off the bench.
The Western Conference is loaded with talented big men, and the Blazers have to get Nurkic some help, so it’s not all on him to stay on the court and try to slow those guys down all night long.